Sunday, November 29, 2009

Alexandra Madison has discovered an invention that could change the world. When her partner is murdered and their lab destroyed, Alex knows she has to rebuild her prototype in time...

Donovan Shea knows the Madison project is of dire importance to the ongoing Pyr/Slayer war. So when he sees Alex being followed by a Slayer, he reacts and defends her, never imagining that she’s his destined mate...

As Slayers close in on their prey, Donovan knows he’ll surrender his life to protect Alex — and lose his heart to possess her...

Emerald O'Brien is the owner of the Chintz 'n China Tea Room where guests are served the perfect blend of tea and tarot reading. She never set out to be a detective, but once word gets out that she can communicate with the dead, there's no turning back...

When the ghost of Susan Mitchell asks for Emerald's help in convicting her own murderer, Emerald can't refuse. Along with her friends-an ex-supermodel and a cop-and her new love interest, Emerald must search for clues to put the killer behind bars-and this tortured soul to rest.

She's a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure - but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life.

Two lovers will dare to risk all.

Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his quest to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable - and let Tayla possess him, body and soul...

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries. Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty — especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries. Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention. But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost — regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

All her life, Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past. To end the nightmare, she has come to Budapest seeking help from men rumored to have supernatural abilities, not knowing she'll be swept into the arms of Maddox, their most dangerous member -- a man trapped in a hell of his own.

Neither can resist the instant hunger than calms their torments... and ignites an irresistible passion. But every heated touch and burning kiss will edge them closer to destruction -- and a soul-shattering test of love...

Though she has lived for centuries, Anya, goddess of anarchy, has never known pleasure. Until Lucien, the incarnation of death — a warrior eternally doomed to take souls to the hereafter. He draws her like no other. And Anya will risk anything to have him.

But when the merciless Lord of the Underworld is ordered by the gods to claim Anya herself, their uncontrollable attraction becomes an anguished pursuit. Now they must defeat the unconquerable forces that control them, before their thirst for one another demands a sacrifice of love beyond imagining...

Alexandra Keller is Chicago's most brilliant reconstructive surgeon. Michael Cyprien is New Orleans' most reclusive millionaire-and in desperate need of Dr. Keller's skills. In the heart of the Garden District, Alex encounters the extraordinary Cyprien, uncovering a love Alex is willing to embrace, even if she must sacrifice her heart and soul to do so.

Atlanta: it's the promised city for the off-worlders, foreigners from the alternate dimensions of heaven-like Elysia and hell-like Charbydon. Some bring good works and miracles. And some bring unimaginable evil...

Charlie Madigan is a divorced mother of one, and a kick-ass cop trained to take down the toughest human and off-world criminals. She's recently returned from the dead after a brutal attack, an unexplained revival that has left her plagued by ruthless nightmares and random outbursts of strength that make doing her job for Atlanta P.D.'s Integration Task Force even harder. Since the Revelation, the criminal element in Underground Atlanta has grown, leaving Charlie and her partner Hank to keep the chaos to a dull roar. But now an insidious new danger is descending on her city with terrifying speed, threatening innocent lives: a deadly, off-world narcotic known as ash. Charlie is determined to uncover the source of ash before it targets another victim -- but can she protect those she loves from a force more powerful than heaven and hell combined?

Saturday, November 28, 2009

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.At least, that's what I thought.Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.There was a curse.There was a girl.And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Plot: 5 StarsThe supernatural aspects of this story were a fresh take on magic and psychic abilities, and the way the characters' powers were handled definitely sets this novel apart from others. I loved how all these little storylines and bits of information came together at the end to blow the reader away.

Pace: 4 StarsThere was a point in the middle of this novel where it started to slow down. It was a long book, and although every bit of information was needed, it just felt like it could've been tightened a little bit here and there to read a little faster. But other than that hiccup in the middle, the pace was fantastic. It sucked me in within the first two chapters, and the ending was just one surprise after another.

Characters: 5 StarsI absolutely loved the interactions between Lena and Ethan. It's not every day you get to read a YA novel from the POV of a teenage boy. And what I loved the most was how unsure and yet completely sure he was of himself the entire time. There was a large cast of characters throughout the novel, but I felt everyone important to the plot definitely wasn't flat.

Cover: 4.5 StarsI loved the spookiness of the cover. The purple title really stood out against the black, and the soft gray forest really made my wonder what I was getting myself into. I also love that the marketing department didn't feel the need to put people on the cover, which is probably the biggest reason it stands out.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

First, is the Honest Scrap Award. How it works is you have to list ten things about yourself then pass it on to ten other blogs.

1. I turned 22 last month.2. My three favorite tv shows are The Big Bang Theory, The L Word, and The Office.3. I love cats, and between my mom's house and my dad's we have seven.4. I read all of my books without creasing the spines. It's a pet peeve.5. I have eleven piercings and five tattoos. 6. I enjoy playing Guitar Hero, but will never be able to make it past medium.7. I love cold weather. The colder the better. Under 40 preferred, but not gonna happen since I live in FL.8. I have a slight obsession with Invader Zim.9. I make an average of two trips to the bookstore a week, even if it's just to browse.10. I've been in my current relationship for over three years.

Next, is the Heartfelt Award. “Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when you’re relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family and friends? You know the feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea, or a hot toddy ? That is what the Heartfelt Award is all about, feeling warm inside.”I am to list 9 blogs that make me feel warm and cozy...

Last, is the One Lovely Blog Award. The Rules: 1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link. 2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs you've recently discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I'm gonna follow Abigail's lead and give all of these awards out at once:

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Talk radio host and werewolf Kitty Norville has agreed to appear on TV's first all-supernatural reality show. She's expecting cheesy competitions and manufactured drama starring shapeshifters, vampires, and psychics. But what begins as a publicity stunt will turn into a fight for her life.

The cast members, including Kitty, arrive at the remote mountain lodge where the show is set. As soon as filming starts, violence erupts and Kitty suspects that the show is a cover for a nefarious plot. Then the cameras stop rolling, cast members start dying, and Kitty realizes she and her monster housemates are ironically the ultimate prize in a very different game. Stranded with no power, no phones, and no way to know who can be trusted, she must find a way to defeat the evil closing in ... before it kills them all.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Here are the rules:- Grab your current read- Open to a random page- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)- Share the title & author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts over “breathers.” Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody…and Cass loves dirt. She’s on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass’s whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim’s life, she’s surprised to realize he’s not so bad—and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it’s time to give the living another chance...

Plot: 3 StarsBeing a paranormal lover, my biggest fault with the book was the lack of paranormal. The ghosts just weren't the focal point the way I thought they were going to be. They were more of a grieving tool. I also sometimes felt the author would get sidtracked from the main plot of Cass helping Tim and bring up the past with Danielle. It was information the reader needed, but it wasn't always presented at the right time.

Pace: 3 StarsFor the most part, the book was a short and quick read. But there were a few parts I had to fight my way through. Somewhere in the middle, the story became a bit stagnant and it took a chapter or two to get it back on track.

Characters: 4 StarsThe characters, both breathers and ghosts, were fleshed out pretty well. I felt like I really knew them, as opposed to being told about them. I also liked the idea of the ghosts having fuzzy memories after a couple days. There were a couple characters we could've gotten a little more information about, such as Cass's dad and the ghosts that hung around the school, but for the most part the characters important to the story were very detailed.

Cover: 3 StarsThe cover was a bit lackluster for me. Although I liked the idea of incorporating the ghostly hands, the color just seemed off. The overabundance of teal didn't really seem to match the overall tone of the book.

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.At least, that's what I thought.Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.There was a curse.There was a girl.And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

Lily is in trouble of the deepest kind. Having been tricked by the forces of evil, she killed what she thought were "demons" at will. Now, she knows better, and with a little help from half-angel, half-demon Deacon Camphire, she must try to take down the bad guys from within as a double agent.

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world’s darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just when their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen... one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into the Shadowland. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source... a surfer named Jude.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She’s always believed Damen to be her soulmate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them, Ever’s connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before...

Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?)

Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England School for other teens like her, and there’s a big problem— she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide...

Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart?

After accidentally stealing the life force of a dying demon, Allay became the only human-demon hybrid in existence. Demons feed on human emotions, so Allay decided the safest way to satisfy this need-and still retain some semblance of her humanity-was to open a bar. Here she can drink from, and ease, her patrons' pain, which has helped her to stay under the demon radar...until now.

When Allay is attacked and nearly killed by another demon, a human comes to her rescue. Theo Ram is tall, handsome, and mortal-and Allay feels a connection to him she didn't think she'd ever know. But that bond is tested when the demon community in New York begins to rise up, and two opposing clans fight for power. Now Allay is caught in the middle, and she must decide where her loyalties lie.

Demon hunter Maxine Kiss wears her armor as tattoos, which unwind from her body to take on forms of their own at night. They stand between her and her enemies, just as Maxine stands between humanity and the demons breaking out from behind the prison veils. It is a life lacking in love, reveling in death, until one moment—and one man— changes everything.

(Not pictured because the library isn't open yet. I'll have this one momentarily.)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Lily is in trouble of the deepest kind. Having been tricked by the forces of evil, she killed what she thought were "demons" at will. Now, she knows better, and with a little help from half-angel, half-demon Deacon Camphire, she must try to take down the bad guys from within as a double agent.

With her cover as a double agent inside the forces of evil blown, Lily has no choice but to go underground. She takes along a cadre of warriors: humans, angels, demons, and other trusted creatures. Their only hope is to stop the forces who are attempting to use the Ninth gate as a wedge that will unleash the fury of Hell.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Here are the rules:- Grab your current read- Open to a random page- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)- Share the title & author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Indigo Springs is a sleepy town where things seem pretty normal... until Astrid’s father dies and she moves into his house. She discovers that for many years her father had been accessing the magic that flowed, literally, in a blue stream beneath the earth, leaking into his house. When she starts to use the liquid "vitagua" to enchant everyday items, the results seem innocent enough: a “’chanted” watch becomes a charm that means you're always in the right place at the right time; a “’chanted” pendant enables the wearer to convince anyone of anything...

But as events in Indigo Springs unfold and the true potential of vitagua is revealed, Astrid and her friends unwittingly embark on a journey fraught with power, change, and a future too devastating to contemplate. Friends become enemies and enemies become friends as Astrid discovers secrets from her shrouded childhood that will lead her to a destiny stranger than she could have imagined...

The desert is far away from the schemes of the Faerie Courts—and that's how Rika likes it. Once a mortal and now a faery, Rika seeks isolation and revels in her ability to appear invisible to humans. Then, she meets him. Artistic and kind, Jayce is the last person Rika wants to hide from.

But change is coming, challenging Rika's freedom and her new romance, as her past pursues her, even into the heart of the desert...

A new series about a boarding school filled with something worse than homework.

Lily's parents have sent her to a fancy boarding school in Chicago filled with the ultra-rich. If that wasn't bad enough, she's hearing and seeing bizarre things on St. Sophie's creepy campus. Her roommate, Scout, keeps her sane, but keeps disappearing at night. When one day Lily finds Scout running from real-life monsters, she learns the hard way that Scout is involved in a splinter group of rebel teens.

They protect Chicago from demons, vamps, and dark magic users. It's too bad Lily doesn't have powers of her own to help. At least, none that she's discovered yet...

Here are the rules:- Grab your current read- Open to a random page- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)- Share the title & author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

I'm a YouTube star. Apparently the footage of me untangling myself from a seemingly never-ending string of Victoria's Secret bras, thongs, and garter belts has not only earned me the oh so clever nickname Spaz but has also been viewed 2323 times. -- pg. 116

Since the accident that claimed her family, 16-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people's thoughts, and know a person's entire history through one touch. She's been branded a freak at her new high school, but everything changes when Ever meets the mysterious Damen Auguste.

Plot: 3.5 StarsThe plot has slight similarities to Twilight, but I really don't think it's a rip off. I think if Ever had some other ability that was not mind reading, there would be less comparisons to Twilight. Either way, I thought Evermore was a fresh take on the YA love story with paranormal elements. I really enjoyed the lack of vampires, werewolves, and faeries.

Pace: 4 StarsThe book flows smoothly and keeps up a swift pace. This was the second time I've read Evermore, and both times I've finished it rather quickly because I couldn't put it down. There were no points in which the story started to lag, so there were no points where I got bored and put the books down for a while.

Characters: 4 StarsI love Ever's best friends, Mile and Haven, even when Haven was making bad decisions and getting worked up over nothing. It was nice to see these relationships because so many YA and UF novels tend to keep the main character isolated. Riley, Ever's little sister, was amusing with her celebrity gossip and costume changes. Ever herself wasn't my favorite, but I definitely appreciated the depth the author brought to her character.

Cover: 4 StarsI love the way the red tulips really pop off of the otherwise monochromatically purple cover. The cover model was also a great choice. The photo really portrayed Ever and her emotional turnmoil quite well.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

For the past two years, Bailey Morgan has lived a double life: high school student by day, ancient mystical being by night. As the third Fate, Bailey literally controls the fate of the world, but as Plain Old Bailey, her life is falling apart. She’s got a tattoo that was supposed to be temporary (but isn’t), friendships that were supposed to last forever (but might not), and no idea what her future holds after high school graduation.

Then Bailey meets the rest of the Sidhe, an ancient race defined by their power, beauty, and a sinister habit of getting what they want at any cost. Before Bailey knows it, she’s being drawn into an otherworldly web more complicated than anything she weaves as a mortal Fate.

Calliope Reaper-Jones so just wanted a normal life: buying designer shoes on sale, dating guys from Craig’s List, web-surfing for organic dim-sum for her boss...

But when her father—who happens to be Death himself—is kidnapped, and the Devil’s Protege embarks on a hostile takeover of the family business, Death, Inc., Callie returns home to assume the CEO mantle— only to discover she must complete three nearly impossible tasks in the realm of the afterlife first.

Without the evil vampire Bishop ruling over the town of Morganville, the resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. With their newfound freedoms, Claire Danvers and her friends are almost starting to feel comfortable again...

Now Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and her friend Eve joins the local theatre company. But when one of Eve's castmates goes missing after starting work on a short documentary, Eve suspects the worst. Claire and Eve soon realize that this film project, whose subject is the vampires themselves, is a whole lot bigger-and way more dangerous-than anyone suspected.

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Allison Beckstrom's magic has taken its toll on her, physically marking her and erasing her memories-including those of the man she supposedly loves. But lost memories aren't the only things preying on Allie's thoughts.

Her late father, the prominent businessman-and sorcerer-Daniel Beckstrom, has somehow channeled himself into her very mind. With the help of The Authority, a secret organization of magic users, she hopes to gain better control over her own abilities-and find a way to deal with her father...

Demon hunter Maxine Kiss, inked with living tattoos, is on a mission to rescue the man she loves from a bloodthirsty army. To save him, Maxine has only one choice: to lose control-and release her own powers of darkness.

Once, Max dreamed of a career, a home, a loving family. Now all she wants is freedom...and revenge. A witch named Giselle transformed Max into a warrior with extraordinary strength, speed, and endurance. Bound by spellcraft, Max has no choice but to fight as Giselle's personal magic weapon -- a Shadowblade -- and she's lethally good at it. But her skills are about to be put to the test as they never have before...

The ancient Guardians of the earth are preparing to unleash widespread destruction on the mortal world, and they want the witches to help them. If the witches refuse, their covens will be destroyed, including Horngate, the place Max has grudgingly come to think of as home. Max thinks she can find a way to help Horngate stand against the Guardians, but doing so will mean forging dangerous alliances -- including one with a rival witch's Shadowblade, who is as drawn to Max as she is to him -- and standing with the witch she despises. Max will have to choose between the old life she still dreams of and the warrior she has become, and take her place on the side of right -- if she survives long enough to figure out which side that is...

Thanks Ann Aguirre! I won this during the 2nd Week of the Skin Game Orgy contest.

Today I'll be featuring Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series. I'll admit, this is one of those series that I started reading solely because of the covers. The tattoos on the cover model and how they changed on each cover, depending on what Mercy was dealing with, drew me in. I'm a sucker for cool tattoos. I'm glad these cover caught my eye because the books are amazing. Mercy is one of those characters that just can't help but find herself in the middle of all of the trouble. And I love that she's a mechanic! And I love that Stephan drives a Mystery Machine.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.

Plot: 3 StarsThe title leads you to believe this book is going to be all about magic, or "talents". But you only get to see a couple different talents that some characters have. With the time travel aspect, the book feels a little too close to science fiction. Although there wasn't anything I specifically didn't like about the story, there also wasn't really anything that blew me away.

Pace: 3 StarsThe majority of the book moved at an adequate pace, but the end was rushed and jumbled. I needed to re-read multiple parts of the last chapter (before the epilogue) to try to wrap my head around what was happening. It seemed like the author was trying to shove too much action into only a couple of pages and some of the descriptions got muddled along the way.

Characters: 3 StarsI liked the main characters, and most of the lesser characters, but I felt like I didn't learn much about them. You got a little bit of background about Tamsin and Gabriel, but not much else. Although I'm glad the story wasn't bogged down in little details that weren't relevant, I wish there could've been a little more exploration and depth in many of the characters.

Cover: 3.5 StarsThe cover is eye catching, but when I look back on the book, it really doesn't tell you enough about the book. I like that the cover model is blurred so that you can make your own mental picture of Tamsin. I just wish there could've been a couple little details added in that tied in to the story.

They call me the Spider. I’m the most feared assassin in the South—when I’m not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don’t use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I’m out for revenge. And I’ll exterminate anyone who gets in my way—good or bad. I may look hot, but I’m still one of the bad guys. Which is why I’m in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I’m battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction . . . especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.

In the heart of Ohio, Jessie Shimmer is caught up in hot, magic-drenched passion with her roguish lover, Cooper Marron, who is teaching her how to tap her supernatural powers. When they try to break a drought by calling down a rainstorm, a hellish portal opens and Cooper is ripped from this world, leaving Jessie fighting for her life against a vicious demon that's been unleashed.

In the aftermath, Jessie, who knows so little about her own true nature, is branded an outlaw. She must survive by her wits and with the help of her familiar, a ferret named Palimpsest. Stalked by malevolent enemies, Jessie is determined to find out what happened to Cooper. But when she moves heaven and earth to find her man, she'll be shocked by what she discovers—and by what she must ultimately do to save them all.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Plot: 4.5 StarsThis story had many twists and turns and kept me guessing. It's not every week I get fooled by more than one book in a week, but Hush, Hush did just that. Every time I thought I had something figured out, I was turned on my head. My only criticism is that I felt there needed to be a bit more backstory, but I'm hoping that will be expanded on in the sequel.

Pace: 4.5 StarsIf I hadn't had to work or sleep, I wouldn't have put this book down. The end of every chapter was like a mini-cliffhanger. The novel pulls you in and doesn't let go. The only slight blip is that the ending seemed to go by just a smidge too fast, but it's forgivable.

Characters: 5 StarsI absolutely loved Nora and Patch, both separately and together. They each had such depth, although it took a bit to see anything besides the mysterious bad boy in Patch. But it was so worth the wait. I wish we could've seen a little more of Vee because she was a spunky BFF to counter Nora's calmer personality perfectly.

Cover: 4.5 StarsThis cover has intrigued me for months. The lone image on the cover is very thought provoking. I love the grayscale. I couldn't imagine it with anymore color than the slight hints of red, it just wouldn't have the same effect. I also like the simplicity. There's nothing in the background to take your eye away from the main image. I only wish the US edition was shiny like the UK edition (that I bought on accident).

About Me

I'm 25 and I love all things paranormal. Although my absolute favorite genre is Urban Fantasy, I do tend to crossover into Paranormal Romance due to the closeness of the two genres. I've been reading YA for as long as I remember and ventured over to UF/PNR as I got older. To learn more, you can click here.
Follow me on Twitter @sara_UFblog

Review Policy

My reviews are cut up into four parts: plot, pace, characters, and cover. I rate and talk about each part within every review. Mini-reviews will be written for novellas (both received for review and purchased myself) and some books that I purchased myself.

I am happy to take review requests from authors and publishers. The genres I read are:
Urban Fantasy
Paranormal Romance
Paranormal Young Adult
Steampunk (both adult and YA)
Dystopian Young Adult

I accept both finished books and ARCs (print and e-book). I'm also open to author interviews, holding contests, and guest blogs.

If you are an auther/publisher interested in having me review or promote a book please contact me at sara_UFblog [at] yahoo [dot] com

Upcoming Events

What I'm Reading

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Upcoming Reviews

Here are the titles of the books I've recently finished reading, but haven't yet written reviews for:

Dangerous Boy by Mandy Hubbard
After the Crux by Dani Worth
The Given & the Taken by L.A. Witt
Matched by Ally Condie
Renegade by J.A. Souders
Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep
The Healing & the Dying by L.A. Witt